Attachment optical assembly for partial high beam module of motor vehicle headlamp

Abstract

The invention proposes an attachment optical assembly for a partial high beam module of a motor vehicle headlamp. This attachment optical assembly has an attachment optical base body which comprises first light guides, and this attachment optical assembly has a separate insert which comprises second light guides. The light guide which is closest to the first light guides in a row is a second light guide, and the light guide which is closest to the second light guides in the row is a first light guide. The insert is arranged in sandwich fashion between a reflective iris and the base body. The reflective iris is snap-fitted to the base body in a resiliently biased manner at two mutually different locations in such a way as to span the insert.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to an attachment optical assembly for a partial high beam module of a motor vehicle headlamp according to the preamble of claim 1. BACKGROUND

[0002] Such an attachment optical assembly is known from US 10261228 B2 and has a plurality of light guides arranged in a row, each of which has a light entry surface and a light exit surface and is provided to guide light incident to the light entry surface to the light exit surface. The known attachment optical assembly further comprises an attachment optical matrix which comprises a first light guide of the row of light guides and which has an insert manufactured separately from the attachment optical matrix, which comprises a second light guide of the row of light guides. The light guide in the row which is closest to the first light guide is the second light guide and the light guide in the row which is closest to the second light guide is the first light guide.

[0003] Modern motor vehicle headlamps are increasingly equipped with LEDs as light sources. As a result, the increasing energy saving requirements can be better met while improving the illumination and the modern design compared to the use of conventional light sources.

[0004] In LED light modules for motor vehicle headlamps with partial high beam functionality and a matrix-like light distribution, light guide specific to the matrix elements of the light distribution are used for the matrix elements, which are arranged close to each other in one or more rows in order to produce a light distribution which can dim individual or even multiple matrix elements and to avoid glare for other road users.

[0005] By the above-mentioned division of the light guides into a matrix and an insert, the distance of the light guides of the matrix from each other and the distance of the inserts from each other can be increased at the manufacture of the attachment optics in order to avoid sharp knife edges in the injection mold and to improve the accessibility of the light guides for polishing the light guide cavities. Thereby, light guide positions with a desired small distance of down to 0.1 mm from each other can be achieved at the joining of the matrix and the insert and a better surface quality of the light guide surfaces already in the injection mold can be achieved without having to use expensive light guide materials such as silicone. SUMMARY

[0006] The invention differs from the prior art mentioned at the outset in the characterizing features of claim 1. These characterizing features provide that the attachment optical assembly has a reflective iris for a motor vehicle headlamp and that the insert is arranged between the reflective iris and the matrix and the reflective iris is elastically biasedly snapped with the matrix at two mutually different positions in a manner spanning the insert.

[0007] By these features, an attached optical assembly is provided, which is characterized by a reflective iris, a base body and an insert for a gapless connection with a minimum of component expenditure.

[0008] One preferred design variant is characterized in that the light exit surfaces closest to one another have a distance between the light exit surfaces closest to one another which is less than 0.1 mm, and the entire light exit surface of the attached optical assembly consists of the individual light exit surfaces of the first light guides and the second light guides, and the insert is snapped with the base body.

[0009] One preferred design variant is characterized in that the base body has n first light guides.

[0010] It is also preferred that the base body has a first base plate 38.

[0011] It is furthermore preferred that at each lateral end of the base body a pin is arranged which extends in the vertical direction.

[0012] Another preferred design variant is characterized in that between each pin and the base plate, on both sides of the base body, a resting surface for the insert and a snap-in structure which is designed to snap with a snap-in structure of the reflective iris which is designed as a counterpart for this purpose extends respectively.

[0013] It is also preferred that the insert has a second base plate and the second base plate has a central snap-in lug which is designed by its arrangement, size and shape for snapping with a central groove of the first base plate of the base body.

[0014] It is furthermore preferred that the insert is an element which is manufactured separately from the base body and contains m second light guides, wherein the number m and n of the first light guides and the second light guides preferably differ from one another by 1.

[0015] Another preferred design variant is characterized in that at each lateral end of the insert an opening is arranged which is designed by its arrangement and orientation and by its size and shape to fit precisely around one of the pins of the base body which extends in the vertical direction.

[0016] It is also preferred that the reflective iris is made of a curved, elastic material.

[0017] It is furthermore preferred that the reflective iris has positioning holes which are designed by their arrangement, size and shape to fit precisely around the pins of the base body and the reflective iris has a plurality of spring-elastic snap-in structures which are designed to snap with snap-in structures of the base body which are complementary to these snap-in structures.

[0018] A further preferred design is characterized in that the m first light guides are arranged in the base body such that the m first light guides extend in a fan shape, wherein a channel-like gap extends between two first light guides closest to one another, the size of the gap decreasing from the light entry-side end to the light exit-side end on the first base plate.

[0019] It is also preferred that the n second light guides 66 are arranged in the insert 34 such that the n second light guides extend in a fan shape, wherein a gap is opened between two second light guides closest to one another, the size of the gap decreasing from the light entry-side end to the light exit-side end on the second base plate.

[0020] It is furthermore preferred that the first light guides and the second light guides are arranged relative to one another and dimensioned in size such that, upon joining of the insert and the base body, each second light guide 66 is received by a channel-like gap between two first light guides 36, and vice versa, each first light guide is received by a gap between two second light guides.

[0021] It is also preferred that the light guide cross section of each individual light guide increases between its light entry-side end and its light exit-side end to such an extent that the gap at the light exit end is completely filled by the light guide located in the gap.

[0022] A further preferred design is characterized in that the gap between the light exit surfaces of each two first light guides closest to one another is exactly so large that the gap is filled by exactly one light exit surface of a second light guide (66).

[0023] Further advantages emerge from the following description, the drawings and the dependent claims. It should be understood that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the specified combinations, but also in other combinations or alone without departing from the scope of the present application.

[0024] Embodiments of the application are shown in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0025] Here, the drawings show schematically, respectively:

[0026] Figure 1 The technical environment of the present application is shown in the form of a motor vehicle headlamp;

[0027] Figure 2 An attachment optical assembly for a partial high beam assembly of a motor vehicle headlamp is shown;

[0028] Figure 3 A reflector is shown from the rear left;

[0029] Figure 4 The base body and the insert in the joined state without low beam source are shown from oblique top and rear; and

[0030] Figure 5 The base body and the insert in the joined state without low beam source are shown from oblique top and front. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] In detail, Figure 1 A motor vehicle headlamp 10 is shown having a housing 12, the light exit opening of which is covered by a transparent cover plate 14. In the interior of the housing a dual function light module 16 is arranged, which has a low beam assembly 18, a partial high beam assembly 20 and a projection optics 22 from its function. The low beam assembly 18 comprises a low beam source 24 with a low beam attachment optics 26 and is arranged above a reflective aperture 28. The light emitted from the low beam source 24 is at least partially deflected by the reflective aperture 28 onto the projection optics 22 and emitted by the latter as a low beam distribution. The projection optics 22 is for example a projection lens or a reflector.

[0032] The position indications v or front, h or rear, r or right, l or left, o or up, u or down relate to the orientation in space, for example these position indications are given when using the motor vehicle headlamp 10 according to the regulations and are shown in Figure 1 for the motor vehicle headlamp 10.

[0033] The partial high beam emitted from the partial high beam assembly 20 is emitted by the projection optics 22 as a partial high beam distribution.

[0034] Figure 2 An attachment optics assembly 30 for the partial high beam assembly 20 of the motor vehicle headlamp 10 is shown. The attachment optics assembly 30 comprises a base body 32, an insert 34 and the reflective aperture 28. Figure 2 The components in a state not yet joined are shown. The viewing direction stretches from front to rear.

[0035] The base body 32 contains n first light guides 36. The light entry surfaces of the light guides 36 are covered in Figure 2 by the first light guides 36 themselves. The light exit surfaces are all visible.

[0036] The base body 32 has a base plate 38. The base plate 38 has a first end 40 and a second end 42 in a direction running from back to front. The first end 40 faces the projection optics 22. From the second end 42, the first light guide 36 initially projects laterally upward from the base plate 38 and changes its direction as the distance from the base plate 38 increases so that it runs between front and back, so that its light entry-side end 44 lies in a plane alongside. The base-plate-side end and the light entry-side end 44 of the first light guide 36 enclose an angle, which is preferably 60° to 120°, preferably 90°. In this plane, the first light guide 36 is fan-shaped divergent when viewed from its base-plate-side end.

[0037] The base body 32 has fastening sections 46 at its laterally running ends in a direction running between left and right, with which the base body 32 can be fastened in the interior of the housing 12.

[0038] At each laterally running end of the base body 32, a pin 48 is arranged, which extends in a vertical direction.

[0039] Between each pin 48 and the base plate 38, on both sides of the base body 32, a resting surface 50 for the insert 34 and a latching structure 52 are respectively extended, which latching structure 52 is provided to latch with a latching structure 53 provided as a counterpart for this purpose of the reflective aperture 28.

[0040] The base plate 38 has a central recess 54, which is provided for receiving a latching lug 56 of the insert 34.

[0041] The two laterally running ends of the base body 32 are connected to one another at least by an upper lateral strut 58. A further lateral strut 60 runs parallel to the upper lateral strut 58 at a vertical distance from the upper lateral strut 58. The light entry-side end 44 of the first light guide 36 rests on the further lateral strut 60.

[0042] The insert 34 has a second base plate 62. The second base plate 62 has a first end 64 and a second end 65 in a direction running from back to front. The first end 64 faces the projection optics 22. The insert 34 comprises m second light guides 66, which insert 34 is an element manufactured separately from the base body 32. The number m and n of the first light guides 36 and the second light guides 66 preferably differ from one another by 1.

[0043] From the second end 65, the second light guide 66 initially projects laterally from the second substrate 62 and changes its direction as the distance to the second substrate 62 increases, so that its light entry-side end 44 lies in a plane alongside. The substrate-side end of the second light guide 66 and the light entry-side end 44 enclose an angle, which is preferably 60° to 120°, preferably 90°, and which is in particular as large as the corresponding angle of the first light guide 36. In the plane, the second light guide 66 is fan-shaped as viewed from its substrate-side end.

[0044] At each lateral end of the insert 34, an opening 68 is arranged, which is set by its arrangement and orientation and by its size and shape to fit precisely around one of the vertically extending pins 48 of the base body 32.

[0045] Between each opening 68 and the substrate, on both sides of the base body 32, a contact surface 70 for the reflective light ring 28 extends respectively.

[0046] The second substrate 62 has a central engagement lug 56, which is set by its arrangement, size and shape for engagement with the central recess 54 of the first substrate 38 of the base body 32.

[0047] The reflective light ring 28 is made of a curved elastic material. Preferably, the reflective light ring 28 is made of a thin sheet metal with a material thickness of less than 1 mm. The reflective light ring 28 is set by its size and shape to span the insert 34. In terms of its optical properties, the reflective light ring 28 has an optical mirror surface, which is delimited by a ring edge 74 facing the projection optics 22. The ring edge 74 is imaged as the bright-dark boundary of the low beam distribution and the high beam / low beam distribution produced by the partial high beam module.

[0048] The reflective light ring 28 has positioning holes 76, which are set by their arrangement, size and shape to fit precisely around the pins 48 of the base body 32. In addition, the reflective light ring has a plurality of spring-elastic engagement structures 53, which are set to engage with the engagement structures 52 of the base body 32, which are complementary to the engagement structures 53.

[0049] The m first light guides 36 are arranged in the base body 32 such that the m first light guides 36 extend fan-shaped, wherein between two first light guides 32 closest to one another a channel-like gap extends. The size of this gap decreases on the first substrate 38 from the light entry-side end 44 to the light exit-side end.

[0050] The n second light guides 66 are arranged in the insert 34 such that the n second light guides 66 extend in a fan shape, wherein a gap is opened between two second light guides 66 that are closest to each other. The size of this gap decreases from the light entry-side end 44 to the light exit-side end on the second substrate 62.

[0051] The first light guides 36 and the second light guides 66 are arranged relative to each other and dimensioned in such a way that, upon joining of the insert 34 and the base body 32, each second light guide 66 is received by a channel-like gap between two first light guides 36, and vice versa, each first light guide 36 is received by a gap between two second light guides 66. Here, the light guide cross section of each individual light guide 36, 66, preferably between its light entry-side end 44 and its light exit-side end, increases to such an extent that the gap at the light exit end is completely filled by the light guide located in the gap.

[0052] That is to say, the gap between the light exit surfaces of each two first light guides that are closest to each other is exactly so large that this gap is filled by exactly one light exit surface of a second light guide.

[0053] Figure 3 The reflex reflector 28 is shown from the rear left. The reflex reflector has, in addition to the spring-elastic engagement formation 53, an angled stop 80 with which the reflex reflector, in the joined state, rests against the upper transverse strut 58 of the base body 32. Furthermore, the reflex reflector has a further spring-elastic engagement formation 78 for clamping with the upper transverse strut 58.

[0054] Figure 4 The base body 32 and the insert 34 in the joined state without the reflex reflector 28 are shown from obliquely above and from the rear. The light entry-side ends 44 of the first light guides 36 and the second light guides 66 rest on the further transverse strut 60. Some of the first light guides 36 have protrusions 82 projecting above their light guide cross section sideways upwards and to the right and to the left. The ends of these protrusions 82 that are laterally located outside to the right and to the left rest on the light entry ends 44 of the second light guides 66. It is thereby achieved that the light entry-side ends 44 of the first light guides 36 and the second light guides 66 are at the same height in the vertical direction. In one direction, the height is defined by the further transverse strut 60, while in the opposite direction, the height is defined by the protrusions 82.

[0055] The light entry-side ends 44 of the first light guides 36 and the second light guides 66 are likewise at the same height in the direction extending from rear to front. This has the advantageous result that the semiconductor light sources assigned to them can be arranged on a flat and rigid printed circuit board, each of these semiconductor light sources being arranged on each light entry surface 44 of the light guides 36, 66, which is low-cost.

[0056] Figure 5 The base body 32 and the insert 34 in the joined state without the reflective aperture 28 are shown from an oblique top view and from the front. It can be seen how the light exit surfaces 84 of the n+m light guides 36, 66 create a practically continuous surface in terms of lighting technology in the manner of a contact with one another, without the light exit surface thus formed being materially continuous. From the light exit surface 84, the light guides 36, 66 fan out in the manner of a sector towards their light entry surfaces 44, and their cross section lying transversely to the direction of light propagation in the light guides 36, 66 increases in the opposite direction. Thereby, a converging optical effect is achieved in combination with the internal total reflection taking place on the side walls of the light guides 36, 66, which is advantageous for producing the sharp bright-dark boundary of the partial main beam light distribution. Figure 5 It can also be seen that the side surfaces of the light guides 36, 66 only contact the light exit surfaces 84, if this is the case. Viewed from the light exit surfaces 84, the light guides 36, 66 fan out in the manner of a sector towards their light entry surfaces 44, and their cross section lying transversely to the direction of light propagation in the light guides 36, 66 increases in the opposite direction. Thereby, a converging optical effect is achieved in combination with the internal total reflection taking place on the side walls of the light guides 36, 66, which is advantageous for producing the sharp bright-dark boundary of the partial main beam light distribution.

[0057] If the light guides 36, 66 were not divided into the base body 32 and the insert 34, a sharp knife tip would have to be provided in the injection mould of the one-piece light guide at the time, which is problematic in terms of manufacturing technology. This problem is also avoided in the present application.

[0058] In the joining of the base body 32, the insert 34 and the reflective aperture 28, the insert 34 is first inserted into the base body 32. The insertion takes place in such a way that the openings 68 arranged at each lateral end of the insert 34 cooperate precisely to encompass one of the vertically extending pins 48 of the base body 32, and the first light guide 32 and the second light guide 66 assume their described positions, and the first base plate 38 of the base body 32 snaps with the second base plate 62 of the insert 34. Subsequently, the reflective aperture 28 is guided onto the composite of the base body 32 and the insert 34 by means of the two positioning holes 76 and is connected with the base body 32 by means of the snap structures 52, 53. Here, the insert 32 is clamped in sandwich fashion between the base body 32 and the reflective aperture 28, and the reflective aperture 28 is snapped here in two mutually different positions in a spanning manner with the base body in an elastically biased manner.

[0059] With these features, an attachment optical assembly is provided, which is characterized in that the reflective aperture 28, the base body 32 and the insert 34 achieve a gapless connection with a minimum of component expenditure.

Claims

1. An attachment optical assembly for a partial high beam module of a motor vehicle headlight, comprising: a plurality of light guides arranged in a row, each of the light guides having a light incident surface and a light exiting surface and configured to guide light incident on the light incident surface to the light exiting surface; An attachment optical substrate, the attachment optical substrate comprising a first optical guide among the plurality of optical guides arranged in a row; The device also includes an insert manufactured separately from the attached optical substrate, the insert comprising a second light guide in the light guide array, wherein the second light guide is the light guide closest to the first light guide among the plurality of light guides arranged in a row, and the first light guide is the light guide closest to the second light guide among the plurality of light guides arranged in a row, characterized in that the attached optical assembly has a reflective aperture for the motor vehicle headlight, and the insert is disposed between the reflective aperture and the attached optical substrate, and the reflective aperture is elastically biasedly engaged with the attached optical substrate at two different locations across the insert.

2. The attachment optical component according to claim 1, characterized in that, The attached optical substrate has n first optical guides.

3. The attachment optical component according to claim 1, characterized in that, The attached optical substrate has a first substrate.

4. The attachment optical component according to claim 3, characterized in that, A pin is arranged at each lateral end of the attached optical substrate, the pin extending in a vertical direction.

5. The attachment optical component according to claim 4, characterized in that, Between each of the pins and the first substrate, abutment surfaces and engaging structures for the inserts extend on both sides of the attachment optical substrate, the engaging structures of the attachment optical substrate being configured to engage with the engaging structure of the reflective aperture.

6. The attachment optical component according to claim 3, characterized in that, The insert has a second substrate, and the second substrate has a central engaging lug, which is configured by means of its arrangement, size and shape to engage with a central groove of the first substrate of the attached optical substrate.

7. The attachment optical component according to claim 6, characterized in that, The insert is a component manufactured separately from the attached optical substrate and includes m second light guides, wherein the number of first light guides n and the number of second light guides m differ from each other by 1.

8. The attachment optical component according to claim 4, characterized in that, An opening is provided at each lateral end of the insert, the opening being configured, by its arrangement and orientation, and by its size and shape, to precisely surround one of the pins extending in the vertical direction of the attached optical substrate.

9. The attachment optical component according to claim 1, characterized in that, The reflective aperture is made of a flexible material.

10. The attachment optical component according to claim 4, characterized in that, The reflective aperture has a positioning hole arranged, sized, and shaped to precisely surround the pin of the attached optical substrate, and the reflective aperture has multiple spring-loaded engagement structures configured to complement the engagement structures of the attached optical substrate.

11. The attachment optical component according to claim 7, characterized in that, The n first light guides are arranged in the attached optical substrate such that the n first light guides extend in a fan shape, wherein a channel-like gap extends between the two first light guides that are closest to each other, and the size of the gap decreases on the first substrate from the light incident end to the light emitting end.

12. The attachment optical component according to claim 11, characterized in that, The m second light guides are arranged in the insert such that the m second light guides extend in a fan shape, wherein a gap is formed between the two second light guides that are closest to each other, and the size of the gap decreases on the second substrate from the light incident end to the light emitting end.

13. The attachment optical component according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cross-sectional area of ​​each individual first optical guide between its light incident end and its light emitting end is increased to such an extent that the gap at its light emitting end is completely filled by the second optical guide located in the gap; or, the cross-sectional area of ​​each individual second optical guide between its light incident end and its light emitting end is increased to such an extent that the gap at its light emitting end is completely filled by the first optical guide located in the gap.

14. The attachment optical component according to claim 13, characterized in that, The gap between each pair of light-emitting surfaces of the first light guide that are closest to each other is so large that the gap is filled by exactly one light-emitting surface of the second light guide.

Images